I have been meaning to do this for a while but have never got round to it. Finally peace and quiet, the kids are in bed and I shall try to give you an insight into who you are trading with.

My name is Steve, 43 years old but if I can avoid the mirror in the morning still feel like I am 21. I am married with two children and have lived in Suffolk for about 14 years now.

I left school at 16 (could try harder and must apply himself better being the general concensus of opinion). But I did OK, a few decent grades in exams but nothing special. Perhaps the teachers were right after all! I still tell my children though what a model student I was and that they must knuckle down (checks over shoulder to make sure neither have sneaked into the room.)

After a few years I joined the AA, not alcoholics anonymous (I’m saving that until next year) and ended up selling breakdown cover for the next 17

 odd years. Prior to that, I had worked in the A.A. operations centre in Chelmsford. This was a job that I loved but unfortunately owing to centralization the office was closed.

At the end of that the AA were sold. Telephone sales from abroad was now the future and I was surplus to requirements. I was made redundant and was given the opportunity to indulge myself in a life long love of antiques and furniture.

 Having been introduced to ebay by a friend and having bought a few nice items, I decided to see if I could sell on there as well.  I explained to my wealthier friends what my plans were and asked them to recommend me to their friends should they ever decide to sell any antique or quality item of furniture. I have never advertised but it is quite amazing how this network has grown and I can now boast that I have two titled gentlemen amongst my clients and also a few millionaires.

I also buy from fine art auctions across the country and hope that I can buy for less than I can sell. I believe that something is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it, so start all my auctions at £1 with NO RESERVE!! Backing my judgement in this way is to say the least, at times, scary, and I do have items every week that I lose money on but so far (touch wood) I have at least broken even overall. I now have to try and reduce the number of items that I pay too much for!!

That said, we all like bargains and when a table that I bought sold for 1 bid of £1, I was pleased in a kind of self-harming way.

What is important to me is quality and training my eye to spot it is an on-going process. I try to describe items honestly and to the best of my ability and will list all faults if I spot them.

When you enter into a trade with me, I will promise that I will treat you courteously and politely. If for any reason you are unhappy with your purchase I will give you your money back, with no hard feelings. I without fail, in every part of my life, try to treat others how I expect to be treated myself. I want everybody who deals with me to expect the best service and I will try and live up to it.

To me this is not about money. Yes, I have a mortgage and bills to pay but I am now far happier doing a job that I love. I want to carry on doing it and I want all of my customers to love the things they have bought from me and at the end of the trade feel that it has been a pleasurable experience. I’m sure I will have times when I slip up but rest assured that if I do I will try to put it right.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope it helps and that I haven’t rambled on too much. Steve.